The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-09

Il y ITO !C'tNI O'G W cOCGo via tSG ~ 4@tSS
ccr-t2ay SAINTS IN General C0ntcrenc
Assembled:
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: =
Once more, in the providence of the Al
mighty, we are permitted to addres:
you in an Epistle. 1t would give US very
great pleasure to be able to communi-
cate to you our views orally; but
through circumstances with which you
are all familiar this gratificationis de-
MED US. We rejoice, however, that the
priv ilegs of communicating q few
OF our thoughts in writing is still al
cur disposal. We have profound feel
Ings of thanksgiving to our God for
His goodness and mercy unto His peo-
pie. Personally we have reason to be
Very grateful TO Him for His preserv-
ing care IN our behalf.
Zion has been passing through q
series OF trials which God will uH-
dOubtedly override for our good. Tne
experience of the past two years and
half has convinced Us that there has
been divine providence in all that has
taken place, and in the shaping of
OrdealS to which the Saints have been
to very many, the day will come when
they will be acknowledged as having
been the means of bringing great bene-
fits to Zion.
The Twelve Apostles and their
Counselors have labored with great
efficiency, as far as they have had OPP
portunity, among the people, and have
been active iu attending to the duties
devolving upon them. The health of
all has been good. Recent letters from
those outside the Territory convey the
intelligence that they are enjoying
their Iabors and are successful in the
performance thereof. The latest adj
vices from President Woodruff assure
US of his good health. Though he is
now past 80 years of age, his bodily and
mental vigor appear unimpaired.
We ourselves are in the enjoyment
of good health, and able to perform
our duties with satisfaction TO our
selves and pleasure in the liberty that
we enjoy. President Joseph T. Smiths
health has been somewhat impaired,
bat he is now fully restored.
The most gladdening news we can
communicate 30 the Conference of the
Church in our Epistle is that from
every part of the land which We in
habit, gratifying reports have been
received Of the zeal and diligence of
the people in attending to the duties of
their religion. Probably at no time in
our history has there beena better dis
position manifested by the people to
attend their meetings on the Sabbath
day, and on fast days, and the prayer
meetings which have been held during
week day evenings. Meetings have
been held st suitable private residences
on many of the blocks in the city and
country wards throughout these
mountains. These have gener-
ally been crowded, and have been
occupied by the Elders in giving in
struction, and by the Saints in bearing
testimony and in prayer. All the
Elders who have been free to travel |
who have reported the results of
ing that at no time in their
experience have the meetings which |
they have held been SO crowded as
during the past winter. These evil
dences of the faith and diligence of |
the people are exceedingly gratifying
to Us. We have been cheered in listen |
ing to them; for we know that when |
the Latter-day Saints repent of their |
SINS and devote themselves assiduous- |
ly TO keeping the commandments of |
Goo, their enemies cannot have much |
power over them.
as people, in times past we have |
been careless and Indifferent IN many |
directions. Neglect of duties has been |
too common everywhere. Hypocrisy
has been ipdulged in to some extent, |
and laXity has prevailed in many |
quarters CONCERNING the keeping of the |
laws of God which is not in accord |
with the spirit of the Gospel. Under |
these circumstances the Lord has |
permitted prosecutions and trials |
to come upon His people that have had |
the effect of stirring them up to greater
diligence. When the Lord, for any
reason, turns diS face away from His
people, andiis slow to hear their cries,
thorough repentance on their part and
complete abandonment of their evil
ways are sure to bring back His favor,
and to cause His cOuntenance to shine
upon them. This has been the case in
every age when God has had people
upon the earth. In our own day we
have seen frequent illustrations of this.
We have never feared for the people. !
nor for the prosperity of the work,
when the Latter-day Saints have been 4
fully alive to the. duties and REQUIRE
mentS of their religion. But when
they have been careless and neglectful,
or diSohedient and hard in their hearts.
then We have trembled; for when the
Saints are in such condition
the displeasure of the Lord is
sure to be awakened against them, and +;
His scourges are likely to fall upon
them. The Lord does not permit His
enemies, nor the enemies of His peo- I
pie, to prevail over them for shy l
length of time when they are living {
neal. unto Him and complying strictly
with dis will. All His promises, of the I
brightest and most glorious character, L
encouraging and hopeful, are given to I
those who keep His Commandments
and who seek earnestly to carry out IN | I
their lives the principles of salvation c
which He has revealed. When a pee S
pie are in this condition their enemies
cannot have much power over them.
We attribute the failure on the pe {
Of our enemies TO accomplish their {
wicked purposes during the last session Z
Of Congress TO the fact that the Saints {
we're more true to their professions, '
Ind were offering up, in sincere hu-
nility and faith, their petitions to the S
God OF heaven for His interposition c
u their behalf. When we consider the p
character of the measures which were c